Family: Married to Michael, a salesman of large office equipment. Children: Jon Michael, 17; Micah, 16.

Q. Has your faith informed your work at NSU?

A. Absolutely. I see so many connections. Many marriage and family therapists say they chose the field because of their faith.

Q. Why?

A. The attributes of a spiritual therapist -- honor, respect, openness, empathy -- are what we offer clients. And for me, those are Christian ideals. And offering yourself non-judgmentally is a spiritual way of being.

Q. What's the purpose of Liberation Outreach Ministries?

A. The established Christian church has set people up to be bound by guilt, something that was supposed to have been nailed to the cross. It's about unbinding people, setting them free, in a personal relationship -- with God, themselves and each other. A lot of people don't see a purpose in what they're doing. part of my job is helping them find it.

Q. Favorite part of your work?

A. I enjoy training the students to establish a relationship with the client. I like when they make the connection between guiding and assisting and collaborating, rather than guiding and then telling and directing.

Q. Hardest part?

A. When the students are so attached to a particular way of knowing that they can't be open to another way. That they can't add to what they already know.

Q. What do you do to relax?

A. I love to dance calypso and salsa styles. My husband and I are good at that. I also like African-American oriented dance from the 1970s.

Q. A book you've been recommending lately?

A. The Voice of Knowledge, by Don Miguel Ruiz. He comes from a different worldview, of Toltec wisdom. I have students read it because it expands your mind. Diversity is a real issue for me, including accepting people's stories, whatever they are.

A. I love anyplace scenic: the Keys, Uganda, Lake Victoria. But I don't have favorite places, or foods, or colors. Favorites confine you. I just have a lot of things I enjoy.

Q. Favorite TV show?

A. Sex and the City was one. My husband finds it hard to believe, but I love the relationship the women had for each other, how they went through things and shared things. They weren't afraid to show their vulnerabilities and silliness.

Q. Favorite music? Favorite performer(s)?

A. I've listened to Stevie Wonder since I was an elementary school girl. He spoke for marginalized people. And of course I loved all the peace and love songs he wrote.

Q. If you could ask God one question, what would it be?

A. "Why such an elaborate plan for the female body?" It has so many twists and turns. God could just say that you could decide you want to have a baby, and then decide not to. Anything but this menstrual cycle thing.

Q. Have you ever doubted your faith?

A. I've never doubted, but I've always questioned.

Q. What's the difference?

A. To doubt is to think something isn't real. To question is to ask, "How is it real?" I like this understanding of God, of Christ, of the spirit of the Christian faith. It's comforting.

Q. Do you have a motto, or a favorite scripture verse?

A. I like the spirit of the verse, "Greater is the God that is in you than the god that is in the world." That tells me there is nothing I can't overcome, and nothing that can overtake me either, and I'm never alone.

-- James D. Davis

Do you know someone we should profile? Tell Religion Editor James D. Davis at 954-356-4730 or jdavis@sun-sentinel.com.